This is a recessed dinner plate from König Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia’s personal dinner service. It dates from about 1850. It sports a multicolored floral pattern, with vibrant green leaves flanking green and purple grapes. The reverse has hallmarking for KPM, the firm that provided tableware for all the Kings and Kaisers of Prussia from Frederick the Great through Kaiser Wilhelm II. In addition to KPM’s hallmarking, we also see the Prussian King’s cypher. It is a fine example.

Description

This is a recessed dinner plate from König Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia’s personal dinner service. It dates from about 1850. It sports a multicolored floral pattern, with vibrant green leaves flanking green and purple grapes. The reverse has hallmarking for KPM, the firm that provided tableware for all the Kings and Kaisers of Prussia from Frederick the Great through Kaiser Wilhelm II. In addition to KPM’s hallmarking, we also see the Prussian King’s cypher. It is a fine example.

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PATRIOTIC PIECE – FULL-COLOR GLASS – KAISER WILHELM I

SKU: 20-297

$75.00

I have examined this item for several minutes trying to categorize it for you. The best that I have come up with it is that it is a patriotic display item commemorating Germany’s first Kaiser, Wilhelm I (1797-1888). In addition to being Kaiser, he was also Prussia’s King from 1861 until his death in 1888. He assumed Prussia’s throne in 1861 when his older brother König Friedrich Wilhelm IV (1795-1861) died. Wilhelm IV was paralyzed and mentally incapacitated by a stroke in 1857. In 1858 Wilhelm I assumed the position of Regent for his older brother and remained in this position until the King’s death in 1861. He continued his brother’s policy of German unification, which was largely completed with the conclusion of the 1866 Austro-Prussian War. Through all this and for the balance of his rule until his 1888 death, his closest advisor and political ally was none other than the “Iron Chancellor,” Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898). While Wilhelm I remained King of Prussia, the other German states deferred to Prussian rule. After the 1870-1871 Franco-Prussian War’s end, he was formally recognized as Emperor of Germany, as well as King of Prussia. Wilhelm I remained the political and moral head of Germany, and was much beloved by his people. Upon his death in March 1888, he was succeeded for ninety-nine days by his son, Germany’s second Kaiser, Friedrich III. Friedrich III was in ill health and died of cancer in June 1888. The third and final Kaiser of Germany, Friedrich III’s son and Wilhelm I’s grandson was Wilhelm II. He ruled Germany from June 1888 until November 1918. As a part of the German surrender following WW I’s end, Wilhelm II agreed to exile in the Netherlands. The House of Hohenzollern, which extended back to Frederick the Great’s time, no longer ruled Germany. Returning to our offering, we have a circular piece that measures 1 1/2″ in diameter. Its gold-toned frame might be brass, or some other non magnetic material. What I believe is a glass panel is inside the frame. A full color likeness of Kaiser Wilhelm I is painted on the panel. He is wearing a full dress uniform complete with a generalfeldmarschall’s epaulettes. On the uniform we see a large medal bar with numerous decorations. He is also wearing the Goldene Kette of the Order of the Black Eagle. The Kette was a large and elaborate collar or oversized neck device. It was made of gold and placed over his neck. It hung down making a very impressive device that was the ultimate expression of being a House of Hohenzollern Prince. Princes were invested with it, and it could only be worn by a born-of-the-blood Prince on state occasions. Certain decorations from the “Black Eagle” decoration family were awarded to very favored individuals at the pleasure of the House of Hohenzollern’s head member. The Black Eagle was proximately displayed on general officers’ headdresses and was a central theme of the headdresses of officers, NCO’s, and enlisted men from the various Garde-Regiments, General Staff, etc. Also on Wilhelm I’s neck in this presentation is the Orden Pour le Mérite. This patriotic item is two-sided so the image may be seen on both sides. The image is somewhat faded and less than what it looked like when it was created more than one-hundred-years ago. Scratches and discoloration of the glass itself are evident. The entire feel is that it shows honest age. I have not seen anything quite like this. Other than being a patriotic piece, I do not know how to explain it. One might also think of it as table medal, but even that is not a correct assessment.

Today, we are offering you one of the most interesting items ever owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II and offered to you here on Der Rittmeister Militaria. It is no secret that two of our favorite merchandise categories are items once owned by royals and those related to the Navy. Our offering today combines both types with an item attributed to Kaiser Wilhelm II and his royal yacht, the S. M. Y. Hohenzollern. This truly magnificent wine carafe was used daily aboard the S. M. Y. Hohenzollern to set a fine table for the Kaiser and his guests.
Kaiser Wilhelm II had strong feelings about the sea and its possibilities for Germany. He firmly supported expanding the Kaiserliche Marine under Secretary of the Imperial Navy Alfred von Tirpitz. As one of Queen Victoria of England’s grandsons, Wilhelm was exceedingly jealous of his British cousins. He was determined that Germany should have a Navy equal to Great Britain’s, as well as overseas colonies to produce wealth for Germany’s Empire as they did for Britain’s.
Kaiser Wilhelm II also greatly enjoyed his luxurious royal lifestyle on land AND sea. His royal yacht and aviso (royal dispatch boat) was the S. M. Y. Hohenzollern. While onboard, he enjoyed every amenity that was available at his numerous German castles. He had special dishes and glassware created solely for use onboard the Hohenzollern that were just as fine as that at any of his castles. [Recently we offered and quickly sold one of the Hohenzollern’s salad cruets].
The best-known S. M. Y. Hohenzollern was the second to bear that name. It was placed in service in 1893, then used extensively until mid-1914. A third S. M. Y. Hohenzollern was under construction when war broke out in July 1914. WW I not only halted progress on the third yacht, but also ended Wilhelm’s use of the second. [In the nineteen years the second Hohenzollern was in service, Wilhelm spent the equivalent of FOUR full years on board]!
The Hohenzollern’s carafe is a glass flagon that is rounded at the bottom. It holds a total of 28 U.S. ounces (.83 liters). Its diameter at the top is 2 ½” and 3″ in diameter at the base. The flagon’s bottom features a sunburst design. The title S. M. Y. Hohenzollern is etched into its glass side toward the base. The presentation’s true stars are featured at the carafe’s top and its handle, which are both rendered in .800 silver! The graceful handle flows down smoothly to the flagon’s mid line. It attaches to the top, where a close look reveals Kaiser Wilhelm II’s crowned royal cypher attached to the flip-up. A wreath encircles the cypher, then is joined at the top with the Hohenzollern Crown. The distinctively elegant presentation simply reeks of Imperial German noblesse oblige. The lid’s underside reveals the hallmarks “37230,” a mark I cannot identify, and the royal silver fineness hallmarks: a half moon, a crown, and .800.
We are proud to offer such an exquisite carafe with its echoes of an epoch of Imperial grace and refinement.

CIGARETTE CASE – PRINZ ADALBERT von PREUßEN

SKU: 20-258

$1,995.00

CIGARETTE CASE – PRINZ ADALBERT von PREUßEN

Prinz Adalbert was the only one of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s six sons who served in the Kaiserliche Marine. All the other boys served the Army in one capacity or another. (The Kaiser’s eldest son, Kronprinz Wilhelm, served as an Armee field commander). This large (far larger than most I have seen) cigarette case is silver-toned. It measures 3 1/4″ x 5 1/4.” The case’s dimple-patterned exterior rather resembles silver snake-skin. Its interior, which measures 6″ x 5 1/4″ when fully opened, is covered with a gold wash finish. Engraved in the interior’s left half is Prinz Adalbert’s reproduced signature, along with a personalized dedication to the “Kommandeur I/M. B./R 4.” The dedication concludes “In dankbarer Kameradshaft Treuerden 1916” (In grateful, dearest comradeship, 1916). (One speculates that Prinz Adalbert gave cigarette cases like it to several men who served with him in this unit).

The elastic strap that held the cigarettes in place is long gone. The case’s side catch is hallmarked underneath for .800 silver and its manufacturer, and sports a moon, and a Hohenzollern Crown per Kaiser Wilhelm I’s 1885 royal decree. It is a high-quality cigarette case, given by a member of the royal family. Kaiser Wilhelm II was far more liberal in giving gifts than any of his sons. Gifts from any of the Hohenzollern Princes are quite scarce. I have had the privilege of offering royal gifts from the Kaiser and the Kronprinz, but this is the first time I have had anything from any of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s other sons. The simple reason is that there were not near as many gifts from the sons. Especially from the sons other than the Kronprinz.

About Us

I'm Kenneth (Ken) J. Greenfield, currently of New Port Richey, Florida, located on the West Coast of Florida in the Tampa Bay area. I started out as a collector of Imperial German Militaria, particularly items dealing with the Imperial German Air Service in the early 1960's. After more than forty years of avid collecting, I began to sell a few items to upgrade my collection and help finance my collecting "habit." I attended militaria shows, both to buy and sell. I wanted to spend more time at home and less traveling for the national companies that I had worked for; so, starting my own business seemed like an attractive alternative. I like nothing better than talking with others about militaria, and introducing newcomers to the joys of owning a "piece of history."